Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

News Releases

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  • 7/1/2026 DEEP Reminds Visitors to State Parks to Plan Ahead for a Safe and Enjoyable Fourth of July Weekend

    (HARTFORD)—As Connecticut residents and visitors prepare to celebrate Independence Day and America’s 250th birthday outdoors, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is encouraging everyone to plan ahead for a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend.

  • 6/30/2026 DEEP Issues Request for Information on Responsible Use of AI and Other Technology to Modernize Permitting Processes

    (HARTFORD) – The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) today issued a new Request for Information (RFI) on the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) and other technology in permitting. This RFI reflects the agency’s continued commitment to improving the efficiency, transparency, predictability, and customer service in its regulatory and permitting programs while maintaining Connecticut’s strong environmental and public health protections. The RFI complements permit streamlining achievements in the 20BY26 Initiative, such as DEEP’s continuing work to digitize records, improve data management, and move more permitting processes online.

  • 6/30/2026 Grant Round Open for Clean Vessel Act Grant Funding for Critical Pumpout Facilities, Which Removed Over One Million Gallons of Marine Sewage from Connecticut’s Waters in 2025

    (HARTFORD) - Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced today that during the 2025 boating season, pumpout facilities receiving federal Clean Vessel Act grant funding removed more than 1.4 million gallons of marine sewage from recreational vessels in Long Island Sound and Candlewood Lake.

  • 6/29/2026 DEEP Implementing Improvements to the Natural Diversity Database Program Based on Recent Study

    (HARTFORD)—The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced its intention to pursue a major mapping modernization initiative to improve the state's Natural Diversity Data Base (NDDB) program. The NDDB program maintains a database of occurrences of endangered, threatened, and special concern species listed under the Connecticut Endangered Species Act, and reviews proposed projects requiring DEEP permits for potential impacts to those species, playing a critical role in protecting rare and imperiled plants and animals on the Connecticut landscape.

  • 6/26/2026 DEEP Announces New Long Island Sound Research Vessel

    (HARTFORD)--The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) unveiled today its new Research Vessel named Sound Outlook. The vessel was named after its intended use, to provide the outlook on the health of our treasured Long Island Sound ecosystem.

  • 6/26/2026 DEEP Highlights Major Progress Improving Efficiency and Speed of its Permitting Programs, Regulations, and Processes

    (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced that it has made significant progress in improving the efficiency and speed of its permitting and regulatory programs, grant processing and payment systems, and more under DEEP’s 20BY26 initiative. As part of that initiative, two years ago DEEP set 20 performance goals to strengthen the transparency, efficiency, and predictability of DEEP’s permitting, environmental review, and other processes by the end of 2026.

  • 6/25/2026 DEEP Announces Over $5 million in Climate Resilience Fund Grants to Protect Communities From Extreme Weather

    (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) today announced the recipients of the second round of grants from the DEEP Climate Resilience Fund (DCRF), the agency’s “one-stop shop” for resilience funding. Through this round, DEEP is awarding $5.1 million to14 municipalities, regional entities and non-profits to support projects that will proactively protect homes, businesses, and critical community lifelines from worsening floods, extreme heat and wind, and other natural hazards.

  • 6/25/2026 DEEP Announces New Paddlecraft Rental Operations at Five CT State Parks

    (HARTFORD, CT) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) today announced new canoe, kayak and/or stand-up paddleboard rental services at five State Parks including Burr Pond State Park in Torrington, Indian Well State Park in Shelton, Lake Waramaug State Park in Kent, Mount Tom State Park in Litchfield, and Squantz Pond State Park in New Fairfield. These vendors were chosen as part of a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) process that DEEP offered earlier this year.

  • 6/25/2026 MEDIA ADVISORY: DEEP To Unveil New Long Island Sound Research Vessel

    (HARTFORD) — On Friday, June 26, 2026, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Commissioner Katie Dykes will join DEEP staff to help christen a new Research Vessel, the R/V Sound Outlook. The new vessel will be used to monitor and assess the water quality in Long Island Sound. The boat is named for its intended use, to help provide the outlook on the health of our treasured Long Island Sound ecosystem, one of North America’s most biologically diverse estuaries.

  • 6/25/2026 DEEP Launches Initiative to Strengthen Resilience of State Parks to Climate-Related Impacts

    (HARTFORD)—The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is launching a comprehensive initiative to strengthen the resilience of State Parks infrastructure to climate-related impacts and develop plans to prepare the agency to respond to extreme weather events that may affect park operations, infrastructure, and public safety.

  • 6/24/2026 Commissioner Dykes, House Speaker Matt Ritter (D-Hartford), and the Metropolitan District Announce Major Progress Mitigating Sewer Flooding in North Hartford

    (HARTFORD, CT) – Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Commissioner Katie Dykes, Connecticut House Speaker Matt Ritter and the MDC today announced that the state’s commitment of over $85 million in state funding from the state’s Clean Water Fund and Clean Water Fund-related funding, combined with MDC infrastructure funding launched in 2023, has delivered on a commitment to expedite relief for residents of Hartford’s North End suffering from sewage overflows in streets and basements.

  • 6/24/2026 MEDIA ADVISORY: Commissioner Dykes to Announce Over $5 Million in Grants to Protect Communities from Extreme Weather

    (HARTFORD) — Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Commissioner Katie Dykes will announce on Thursday the recipients of the second round of grants from the DEEP Climate Resilience Fund (DCRF). In this round, DEEP is awarding $5.1 million to 14 municipalities, regional entities and non-profits to support projects that will proactively protect homes, businesses, and critical community lifelines from worsening floods, extreme heat and wind, and other natural hazards.

  • 6/24/2026 MEDIA ADVISORY: DEEP to Celebrate New Paddlecraft Rental Operations at Five CT State Parks

    (HARTFORD) — On Thursday, June 25, 2026, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) will host a ribbon cutting and press conference to announce new canoe, kayak and/or stand-up paddleboard rental services at five state parks including Burr Pond State Park in Torrington, Indian Well State Park in Shelton, Lake Waramaug State Park in Kent, Mount Tom State Park in Litchfield, and Squantz Pond State Park in New Fairfield.

  • 6/23/2026 MEDIA ADVISORY: Commissioner Dykes, House Speaker Ritter, and the Metropolitan District Announce Major Progress Mitigating Sewer Flooding in Hartford’s North End

    (HARTFORD) — On Wednesday, June 24, 2026, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), together with the Metropolitan District (MDC) and Speaker of the House Matt Ritter will provide an update on current and recently completed sewer infrastructure, delivering on a commitment to expedite relief for residents suffering from sewage overflows in streets and basements in Hartford’s North End

  • 6/12/2026 DEEP Announces New Grant Programs to Support Healthy Urban and Community Forests

    (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) today announced two grant programs aimed at expanding tree canopy cover and improving the health and resilience of Connecticut’s urban and community forests. Together, these federally-funded programs, administered by DEEP’s Urban and Community Forestry Program, will help municipalities address tree canopy loss caused by pests and diseases while supporting resilient forestry practices in municipally and tribally owned forest.